Issue - meetings

1.      That the commencement of negotiations with the identified service provider in order to agree pilot contractual arrangements that limit, as far as reasonably practicable, the liability of the Council be approved.

2.      That the allocation of funding from the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund to enable the arrangement to run on a pilot basis for one year as detailed within the Part 2 annex be approved.

3.      That a report be brought back to Cabinet within 6 months of the commencement of the pilot contract, assessing the costs and benefits of the arrangements, taking account of developing partnership opportunities and emerging national practice in this area.

Reason for Decisions

To enable the Surrey Fire Authority to meet the requirements laid out in legislation to enable SFRS to undertake its mission to save life, relieve suffering and protect property and the environment and have in place suitable business continuity arrangement to achieve these outcomes so far as is reasonably practicable in the event of industrial action by one or more of the relevant representative bodies, or another business continuity event.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities Select Committee]

The Fire Authority is required by law to provide a fire and rescue service and to put in place business continuity arrangements to ensure that this can continue to be provided in a range of circumstances. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Business Continuity plans were presented to Cabinet in November 2011. Since that time the Service has been working to ensure that, as far as reasonably possible, there would be no gap in business continuity in the event of industrial action and that it could continue to undertake its mission to save life, relieve suffering and protect property.

This work had led to the development of proposals which would not only address the long standing capability gap in the event of industrial action but would also deliver additional support in terms of specialist services and equipment. The Cabinet, as the Fire Authority for Surrey, therefore considered entering into an innovative contract (the details of which were considered in private in Part 2 of the meeting) for the provision of specialist emergency response capability and the associated emergency response contingency crews. This would be funded as a one year pilot through internal reserves.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the commencement of negotiations with the identified service provider in order to agree pilot contractual arrangements that limit, as far as reasonably practicable, the liability of the Council be approved.

2.      That the allocation of funding from the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund to enable the arrangement to run on a pilot basis for one year as detailed within the Part 2 annex be approved.

3.      That a report be brought back to Cabinet within 6 months of the commencement of the pilot contract, assessing the costs and benefits of the arrangements, taking account of developing partnership opportunities and emerging national practice in this area.

Reason for Decisions

To enable the Surrey Fire Authority to meet the requirements laid out in legislation to enable SFRS to undertake its mission to save life, relieve suffering and protect property and the environment and have in place suitable business continuity arrangement to achieve these outcomes so far as is reasonably practicable in the event of industrial action by one or more of the relevant representative bodies, or another business continuity event.

1.      That the proposed pilot contractual arrangements be approved as detailed within the Part 2 annex.

2.      That the redirection of funding from the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund be approved to enable the arrangement to run on a pilot basis for one year commencing January 2013.

Reason for Decisions

The provision of contingency crewing has proved to be problematic for most Fire and Rescue Authorities, due to both the cost and the quality of service being offered. The delivery of this provision as an integral part of the provision of specialist rescue capability is an innovative approach which offers the potential to explore income generating possibilities in the future. 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities Select Committee]

Further to the item considered in Part 1 of the meeting (minute reference: 147/12), the Cabinet considered the contractual and financing arrangements for the provision of contingency crewing and specialist rescue capability pilot.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the proposed pilot contractual arrangements be approved as detailed within the Part 2 annex.

2.      That the redirection of funding from the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund be approved to enable the arrangement to run on a pilot basis for one year commencing January 2013.

Reason for Decisions

The provision of contingency crewing has proved to be problematic for most Fire and Rescue Authorities, due to both the cost and the quality of service being offered. The delivery of this provision as an integral part of the provision of specialist rescue capability is an innovative approach which offers the potential to explore income generating possibilities in the future.